Barrel



24, 1967 D. J. TREVARROW, JR 3,348,721

BARREL Filed May 20, 1965 f/ I INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,348,721 BARREL David J. Trevarrow, Jr., Maple Glen, Pa., assignor to Kelsey-Hayes Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 20, 1965, Ser. No. 457,316 4 Claims. (Cl. 220) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This application discloses a barrel comprised of a thin wall shell that is protected at each of its ends by resilient shock supports. These shock supports provide hand holes to facilitate handling of the barrel and embody embedded substantially rigid reinforcing rings adjacent the hand holes.

This invention relates to a container and more particularly to a composite barrel.

The container disclosed in this application is an improvement in the type of container shown in the copending application of the same title, Ser. No. 457,317, filed May 20, 1965, and assigned to the assignee of this invention. The container illustrated and described in the afore mentioned application comprised a generally thin wall shell comprised of a sidewall and at least one end wall. An elastomer shock support was afiixed to the shell and extended past the end wall to define a supporting surface for the container that was laterally spaced from the outermost extremity of the end wall. This type of construction permits the container to be formed from a very thin material since the shock supports absorb impact loading upon the container. They additionally give rise to a longer life for the container since it does not become damaged as easily. The composite construction further permits the barrel to be formed without any stress concentrations due to irregular internal shapes. This internal construction additionally facilitates internal coating and cleaning of the barrel.

This invention relates to an improved shock support construction for such a composite container and thus embodies all of its advantages. The improved construction of this invention permits the use of a softer elastomer for the shock support to increase the impact absorbing qualities of the shock support without sacrificing its strength. The improved construction herein disclosed also provides means to facilitate handling of the barrel and the shock supports are designed to protect certain types of tap spouts that may be used with a barrel.

The principal object of this invention, therefore, is the provision of an improved shock support for a composite container.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a composite container having a shock support that facilitates handling.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a composite container that protects certain accessories which form a part of the container.

A container embodying this invention comprises a sidewall and at least one end wall affixed to the sidewall. The container is formed of thin wall construction and a resilient shock support is aflixed to the container at one end thereof. The shock support extends past the end wall to provide a supporting surface for the container that is spaced from the end wall. A substantially rigid reinforcing member is embedded in the shock support to reinforce it. As a further feature of this invention, hand holes are formed in the shock support to facilitate handling of the container. As a still further feature of the invention, a tap spout formed in the end wall is also surrounded by the shock support so that it will be protected by the shock support.

3,348,721 Patented Oct. 24, 1967 Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent as this description proceeds, particularly when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a barrel embodying this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged plan view, with portions broken away, of the barrel shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through the shock support at one end of the container, showing another embodiment of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and in particular to the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 through 3, a composite barrel embodying this invention is identified generally by the reference numeral 11. The barrel 11 comprises a shell 12, a pair of resilient annular end shock supports 13 and 14, and a pair of resilient roll rings 15.

The shell 12 is formed of a thin wall construction and may be formed of a corrosion resisting material such as stainless steel or from a plastic, but is preferably in sheet form. Other suitable materials also may be employed depending upon the particular application. The shell 12 comprises a generally cylindrical center band 16 to which is secured an elliptical head 17 having a flange 18 that is welded around its periphery to one end of the center band 16, as by a weld 19. The opposite end of the center band 16 is closed by an elliptical head 21 having a flange 22 that is welded around its periphery to the other end of the center band 16, as by a weld 23. A bung plate 24 is provided at any suitable location in the center band 16. A tap plug 25 is formed in the head 21 which may be considered the upper head or end of the barrel 11.

It will be noted that the shell 12 is not provided with any reinforcing flanges or supporting chines adjacent the juncture between the heads '17 and 21 and the center band 16. The internal surface of the shell is free of discontinuities due to the use of the elliptical heads and cylindrical center bands and thus no stress concentration areas are present. In addition, the smooth uninterrupted internal surface of the shell 12 permits it to be cleaned readily and to be coated, if desired.

Since the shock supports 13 and 14 provided at the ends of the barrel 11 are identical, only one will be described in detail. Each of the shock supports 13 and 14 is formed from an elastomer material, such as rubber, so that it will yieldably resist impact loads upon the barrel 11 due to rough handling. It comprises a surface 26 that is complementary to the adjacent head of the shell 12 in the area adjacent the weld between the head flange and the center band 16. The portion 26 extends to a point adjacent to the weld 19 and extends circumferentially around the flange 18. A depending skirt portion 27 extends from the head 17 and forms an annular supporting surface 28 that is spaced from a lateral plane including the outermost extremity of the head 17 so that when the barrel 11 is stored in a vertical position, it will be supported upon the surface 28 without any contact of the head 17 with the floor on which the barrel is stored. An outer periphery 29 of the shock support is also spaced radially outwardly from the flange 18. The surface 29 provides some lateral support for the end of the barrel 11 if it is being rolled on its edge or if it is desired to tip it over on its side.

A substantially rigid ring, formed from iron or another metal 31, is embedded in each of the shock supports adjacent the surface 29 and the supporting surface 28 at the base of the skirit portion 27. A plurality of smaller helical rings 32 are wound around the ring 31 at spaced locations, as shown in FIGURE 3. The ring 31 and helical rings 32 are molded into the shock supports 13 and 14 when they are formed. The helical rings 32 thus assist in locating the ring 31 during the molding operation. The rings 31 lend structural strength to the shock supports 13 and 14, particularly in the area of the supporting surface 28 and permit a smaller amount of the clastomer to be used. A softer elastomer also may be used to improve the shock absorbing characteristics of the shock supports 13 and 14 due to the reinforcement provided by the ring 31.

A plurality of hand holes 33 are formed in the skirt portion 27 at spaced locations around each of the shock supports -13 and 14. The hand holes 33 terminate adjacent the reinforcing ring 31 and facilitate handling of the barrel 11. Since the hand holes 33 are adjacent the reinforcing ring 31, the reinforcing ring 31 also adds structural strength to prevent injury to the shock supports 13 and 14 when the barrel 11 is being lifted by means of the hand holes 33.

The roll rings have an outer periphery 34 of a generally cylindrical shape that extends past the surface 29 of the shock supports 13 and 14. When the barrel 11 is in a horizontal position, it may be rolled along the cylindrical surface 34 of the roll rings 15. The roll rings 15 may be formed from an elastomer material such as rubber and have a cylindrical inner surface 35 that contacts the shell 16 around its periphery.

The roll rings :15 and shock supports 13 and 14 may be secured, by bonding, to the shell 12 or may be vulcanized to it. It is preferable to vulcanize at least the shock supports 13 and 14 to the shell. Since they are of an elastomer material, they will not readily become damaged. If they should become damaged, however, they can readily be replaced without necessity of replacement of the entire barrel. The shock supports 13 and 14 are connected to the shell 12 over a relatively large surface. Any impact forces that are transmitted through the shock supports 13 and 14 to the shell 12 by dropping of the barrel 11 will thus be reduced to unit loadings which may be readily absorbed by the shell 12 without permanent deformation of it. The shock supports 13 and 14 and roll rings 15 additionally protect the entire periphery of the shell.12 including the bung plate 24 so that damage will not occur regardless of how the barrel 11 may be dropped.

If the barrel 11 is unloaded from a truck by dropping it onto the ground, the elastomer shock supports 13 and 14 will absorb the impact loading and prevent excessive bouncing of the barrel 11 in addition to protecting the shell 12 from damage, in the manner previously described. The supporting surface 28 also covers a suflicient area to permit convenient stacking of the barrels.

The embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 through 3 includes a conventional tap plug 25 that is positioned generally at the center of one of the heads of the barrel 11. In another type of barrel construction, the tap plug extends from a side of the head in a generally radial direction of the barrel 11. This type of fitting is known as the Golden Gate type. Figure 4 illustrates a modification embodying this type of tap fitting and shows how the shock support of the respective head may be utilized to protect the tap fitting.

Referring now in detail to FIGURE 4, a barrel head 51 is formed with a Golden Gate type of fitting 52 that extends in a generally radial direction with respect to the barrel. A resilient shock support, indicated generally by the reference numeral 53 extends around the barrel and has a surface 54 complementary to the adjacent portion of the head 51. The surface 54 is vulcanized or otherwise secured to the head 51. A skirt portion 55 depends from the barrel and terminates at an annular supporting portion 56 that is laterally spaced from the outermost extremity of the head 51. A reinforcing ring 57 is molded into the shock support 53 adjacent the surface 56 and hand holes (not shown) are provided as in the earlier described embodiment. The tap fitting 52 extends through the skirt portion 55 and terminates radially inwardly of its outer extremity. A recess 58 is formed in the skirt portion around the outer end of the tap fitting 52 to permit the barrel to be tapped in a known manner. It should be readily apparent that the shock support 53 will thus protect the tap fitting 52 which in a conventional barrel would be otherwise unprotected.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A barrel comprising a generally cylindrical center band, first and second elliptical heads having flange portions afiixed to said center band at each end thereof, said heads and said center band being formed of a generally thin wall sheet metal construction, first and second elastomer shock supports affixed to said head flanges around their periphery, said shock supports having a depending skirt portion extending from said flanges and terminating in a supporting portion having a supporting surface spaced from the respective head of said barrel, the outer periphery of said supporting surfaces extending radially beyond said center band for providing a resilient rolling surface at each end of said barrel and a substantially rigid reinforcing ring embedded in said supporting, portion, said elastomer shock supports having substantially more resilience than said heads and said center band.

2. A barrel as set forth in claim 1 further including a plurality of hand holes formed at spaced locations in the skirt portion of at least one of the shock supports for facilitating handling of said barrel.

3. A barrel as set forth in claim 1 further including a plurality of locating means surrounding each of the reinforcing rings to facilitate location of said reinforcing rings within the respective shock support.

4. A barrel comprising a generally cylindrical center band, first and second elliptical heads having flange portions aflixed to said center band at each end thereof, said heads and said center band being formed of a generally thin wall sheet metal construction, first and second elastomer shock supports affixed to said head flanges around their periphery, said shock supports having a depending skirt portion extending from said flanges and terminating in a supporting portion having a supporting surface spaced from the respective head of said barrel, the outer periphery of said supporting surfaces extending radially beyond said center band for providing a resilient rolling surface at each end of said barrel, and a plurality of hand holes formed in the skirt portion of at least'one of said shock supports for facilitating handling of said barrel, said shock supports having substantially more resilience than the material of said heads and said center band.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,550,698 8/1925 Hazelett.

1,670,158 5/l928 Kiug 206--2 2,038,420 4/1936 Coakley 2205 X 2,758,742 8/1956 Farrell.

2,983,403 5/1961 Mauser 220-63 2,997,197 8/1961 Ficker 22072 X 3,158,296 1l/l964 Cornelius 222-386.5 3,294,271 12/1966 Armbruster 220--5 FOREIGN PATENTS 907,742 10/1962 Great Britain.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE E. LOWRANCE, Examiner. 

1. A BARREL COMPRISING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL CENTER BAND, FIRST AND SECOND ELLIPTICAL HEADS HAVING FLANGE PORTIONS AFFIXED TO SAID CENTER BAND AT EACH END THEREOF, SAID HEADS AND SAID CENTER BAND BEING FORMED OF A GENERALLY THIN WALL SHEET METAL CONSTRUCTION, FIRST AND SECOND ELASTOMER SHOCK SUPPORTS AFFIXED TO SAID HEAD FLANGES AROUND THEIR PERIPHERY, SAID SHOCK SUPPORTS HAVING A DEPENDING SKIRT PORTION EXTENDING FROM SAID FLANGES AND TERMINATING IN A SUPPORTING PORTION HAVING A SUPPORTING SURFACE SPACED FROM THE RESPECTIVE HEAD OF SAID BARREL, THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF SAID SUPPORTING SURFACES EXTENDING RADIALLY BEYOND SAID CENTER BAND FOR PROVIDING A RESILIENT ROLLING SURFACE AT EACH END OF SAID BARREL AND A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID REINFORCING RING EMBEDDED IN SAID SUPPORTING PORTION, SAID ELASTOMER SHOCK SUPPORTS HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY MORE RESILIENCE THAN SAID HEADS AND SAID CENTER BAND. 